School Governor Reflections Resource

What was the issue addressed?

How the school responds to high number of pupils with additional learning needs (ALN). Staff are very understanding, sympathetic and work very hard to provide for all. However, the training given has not really addressed the issue. It is generally felt that most additional needs cannot be properly addressed in a busy classroom. Teachers are aware that, even with adapted work, and exceptional efforts to motivate and support, they are not able to properly alleviate the problems with literacy, numeracy and behaviour. The financial situation does not allow for extra learning support staff.

I am finding it difficult to convince anyone that there are other less conventional approaches, developed from more recent research that can be used to help ALN pupils learn more effectively. I am concerned that any observation or suggestion will be interpreted as criticism.

What happened?

I am trying to slowly build relationships with staff that might allow me to offer suggestions of how issues can be addressed.

During governor meetings with the ALNCo I have tried to establish, with specific questions (as advised by the Governor Support Service), the school’s position in regards to numbers, assessment and interventions but as yet have not been provided with answers.

What lessons were learnt?

Perhaps if schools knew more about governors’ qualifications, areas of expertise and experience we could be used to greater advantage. I think most of us would be prepared to share that knowledge and experience without seeking financial gain. A real consideration in these straitened times.

Reflections…

Does your governing body conduct an audit of governors’ skills and experiences? Is this shared with school staff?

Have you or any governors you know been frustrated that their professional experience and knowledge is not used by the school?

Have your say… Have you had experiences similar to these? What do you think about the situation described?

How to make sure policies are fit for purpose

Read the commentary here

Welsh

What was the issue addressed?

Reorganising of the business of school governors – in our case it became clear in the run up to an inspection by Estyn that the governing body was only paying lip service to keeping policies up to date.

What happened?

The decision was made to create a policy committee. The composition of this committee brought together a number of skills from a range of governors. The committee has systematically worked through the school policies to bring them up to date, and then keep them up to date through annual review. The process means that policies are interrogated as to whether they reflect what actually happens in the school, and whether the policy and the actions within the school need to change.

The committee then forwards the policies, together with observations, to the full governing body for scrutiny and ratification. This process means that policies are scrutinised in a focused way and the full governors meetings are freed up for other matters.

What lessons were learnt?

This has been a successful process, and has made the governing body more effective in the way that it uses its time, and in checking the processes in place in the school.

Reflections…

Does your governing body have a strategy in place for reviewing school policies?

Are there ways that your governing body could conduct its business more efficiently and effectively?

Have your say… Have you had experiences similar to these? What do you think about the situation described?

Addressing health and safety issues relating to the school building

Read the commentary here

Welsh

What was the issue addressed?

At the primary school I have been asked to deal with a health and safety issue because of my background and my role as an LA councillor. There are problems with the brickwork on the building and scaffolding has been put on a large area of the school. This is causing some access problems, cuts off some of the playground and barriers have been placed outside the school to protect it. This has caused problems with the security of those barriers and parking at the school.

What happened?

I have been in touch with the LA on more than one occasion to get clarification of the plan to identify the work that is required and timelines for doing it and how to resolve the problems with space and safety of the playground with the scaffolding there. I have also asked twice for the barriers on the road to be made secure and to be aligned in such a way that parking is not possible in that area.

What lessons were learnt?

The issues haven’t been resolved yet and getting answers from the Local Authority is taking time. This teaches me that raising questions and addressing problems, if it requires LA support, needs to be started sooner rather than later.

Reflections…

Has your school had any building issues that also raise health and safety concerns? What did you do to address these?

Do you know which governors have the skills to take on responsibilities for building work and related health and safety issues?

Have your say…

Have you had experiences similar to these? What do you think about the situation described?

Appointing a new headteacher without haste

Read the commentary here

Welsh

What was the issue addressed?

Recruitment of a new head teacher – this is on-going. This was prompted by the unexpected retirement of an experienced and successful head. The challenge is in making sure the process wasn’t rushed so we could make sure we recruited the right person. Additionally, the school is apparently seen as a challenging school and there is a fear we will not attract the right calibre of person to the role. It is very important to all of us governors that the school continues to provide an excellent education for our children in a particularly multicultural context. The school is well thought of and looks after the wellbeing of children and parents well.

What happened?

The governing body agreed to plan for a gap rather than rush recruitment. This involved giving the current deputy a chance to step up for an interim period. This deputy is unfortunately unable to apply for the role as they have not had the relevant training (this was a little difficult to understand initially). We used the expertise of the consortium and LA to support us in making the right decision.

What lessons were learnt?

Although we haven’t yet made an appointment, we believe the right pathway has been taken. You cannot rush the appointment of a headteacher.

Reflections…

If your school had to unexpectedly appoint a new headteacher, what would you do?

What is your school doing to ensure deputy headteachers are developing their skills and receiving appropriate training?

Have your say…

Have you had experiences similar to these? What do you think about the situation described?

Resolving complaints made by parents against teachers

Read the commentary here

Welsh

What was the issue addressed?

There was a complaint from a parent against the teacher of her primary age children. She sent a letter to the education department, headteacher and Chair of governors. The mother was very irate in her letter threatening all sorts of ways of taking further action.

What happened?

As we had received a letter, our governing body, through the Chair, took action to deal with the issue separately. The parent in question came into school to have a meeting; there was some tension from her and we went through the letter and listened. The letter had been addressed to the Chair, so at the meeting there was just the Chair, another governor and the secretary. We did not want the parent to feel overwhelmed. We then made a list of things we would do and arranged another meeting where we provide answers in a week’s time. We had the next meeting, gave her our answers. The complainant was happy with the outcome.

What lessons were learnt?

Being patient and listening. We had spoken to teacher involved and the teaching assistant prior to the meeting to allow us to hear their side. The teacher had also had a letter. We made sure we gathered information from all sides before meeting the complainant to seek to resolve the issue.

Reflections…

How has your governing body addressed complaints by parents against teachers in your school?

Do you have a policy and procedures in place to seek to resolve complaints by parents against the school?

Have your say…

Have you had experiences similar to these? What do you think about the situation described?

How to address tensions between governors and members of staff

Read the commentary here

Welsh

What was the issue addressed?

A teacher complained about governor, who has a child at the school. The governor then complained about teacher’s professionalism.

What happened?

The issue came to me as Chair. I followed the complaints procedure and noted ALL conversations. It basically boiled down to personal differences which morphed into a disagreement about school performance. Both parties refused mediation. The teacher remains at the school as there are no issues with their performance. The governor’s child is also doing well.

I wrote a delicately worded letter to both parties recognising their difference but, asking them to act professionally. The teacher has since been attending counselling sessions which are helping. I worked within the governing body but in close communication with Human Resources at Local Authority level.

The issue hasn’t been fully resolved.

What lessons were learnt?

What did I learn? Sometimes, the jump to an official complaint is made too quickly. In future, I would always ask for parties to attend a mediation meeting. BOTH parties were wrong to launch official letters so soon.

The Local Authority HR help was good.

Reflections…

Have there ever been tensions in your school between a member of staff and the governing body?

How would you seek to bring reconciliation between a governor and member of staff?

Have your say…

Have you had experiences similar to these? What do you think about the situation described?

Dealing with a grievance against the headteacher

Read the commentary here

Welsh

What was the issue addressed?

Duty of Care Grievance was made against the headteacher from a member of staff.

What happened?

The Duty of Care policy was followed and informal discussions were held. Support was given by the Local Authority HR department – advice, documentation etc.

What lessons were learnt?

Informal actions were not successful. Formal procedures were then initiated and an independent investigator was employed. The investigator was given strict terms of reference to investigate and held regular face to face meetings, telephone calls, emails occurred with relevant parties.

Reflections…

Has your governing body had to deal with a grievance against the headteacher?

What processes and policies would you follow if a duty of care grievance was made against a senior member of staff?

Have your say…

Have you had experiences similar to these? What do you think about the situation described?

From possible school closure to forming a school federation

Read the commentary here

Welsh

What was the issue addressed?

This issue started before I became governor but it is what led me to become governor at the school.

There was a proposal to close the school and develop a neighbouring school. The best option that the school had to consider was in becoming part of a federation.

What happened?

During the consultation process and due to strength of feeling from the community, the proposal for school closure was shelved to allow the school opportunity to seek a federation partner. Without an active closure proposal in place, schools previously unwilling to have discussions at federation now felt they could start these discussions.

What lessons were learnt?

Becoming part of a federation saved the school from closure and has been a win win for those involved.

Reflections…

Has your school faced closure?

What do you perceive as the advantages and disadvantages of being part of a school federation?

Have your say…

Have you had experiences similar to these? What do you think about the situation described?

Addressing the rise of complaints and unreasonable behaviour from pupils and parents

Read the commentary here

Welsh

What was the issue addressed?

School staff are increasing having to deal with complaints and unreasonable behaviour from pupils and parents. The school staff are having to become counsellors, legal experts, aggression mediators and other roles that are not strictly teaching or even school management.

What happened?

The school had to create a legal service-level agreement (SLA) with the Local Authority. Alongside this we reshaped the school pupil behaviour support unit.

What lessons were learnt?

The actions have helped the situation. Areas that would further benefit require more staff, which requires more funding, which is not tenable at present

One lessons learnt is to have clearer roles and responsibilities between teaching and support staff. Support staff need boundaries and clarity as to what they are expected to do, and including the policies relating to handling of pupils and enforcing rules etc.

Reflections…

Has your school experience increases in behavioural problems with pupils and/or difficulties with parents?

How can the governing body best support the school in tacking issues such as these?

Have your say…

Have you had experiences similar to these? What do you think about the situation described?

How to deal with parents disrespecting staff on social media?

Read the commentary here

Welsh

What was the issue addressed?

We’ve had issues with social media and parents disrespecting staff and the school. As this was not on the school website pages we had no control over it. We did discuss it with parents but we had no control over it.

What happened?

We gained advice from governor support and some staff did obtain advice from their trade union. We sent a newsletter about social media to parents.

What lessons were learnt?

I don’t think the actions were suitable although the comments did naturally fizzle out.

What controls are in place for protecting school and staff on social media? We would be interested to hear how other governing bodies have dealt with such issues.

Reflections…

Has your school experienced any inappropriate use of social media against members of school staff?

What do think are the best ways to tackle parents disrespecting staff?

Have your say…

Have you had experiences similar to these? What do you think about the situation described?